I have had my cichlids for maybe a month now and my tank has no nitrites, ammonia, and very little nitrates with a high ph and I was wondering why my cichlids are changing colors? I had one that was yellow with black stripes that is now tan with a black head, and one that was orange with black stripes but now is almost all black. Sorry I am not really great with the different names of them I think that they are called auratus and maingano cichlids.

easty83

03-23-2009 01:34 AM

Alot of cichlids have the ability to turn on/off colours depending on what they are doing, ie when breeding or defending a territory. This is quite normal behaviour.

invictusmaneo

03-23-2009 11:14 AM

they also can change colors as they mature sexually. Some types do it more drastically then others. It can be enviornmental, territorial, excitement, stress levels, or sometimes they just seem to do it.

Bumblebees are pretty notorious for it, though all mbuna do it to some extent it seems